The Farmhand Exchange

The Farmhand Exchange

Connecting and Supporting Local Farmers & Growers for the Love of BeerTrue sustainability means more than just recycling plastic cups or using fancy light bulbs in the tasting room—it's about actively contributing jobs, optimizing responsible ingredient sources and collaborating with neighbors in our own community. And that’s exactly why we created the Haw River Farmhand Exchange program.

The Farmhand Exchange is a transparent supply chain network of local farmers, growers, builders & local artisans that work with Haw River Farmhouse Ales to both provide and receive goods & services that otherwise might be shipped hundreds of miles and dropped off the back of a truck. With each Exchange member located within 100 miles of the brewery, we work together to provide organized support for each other, going beyond simply purchasing ingredients for our beer.

And as a bonus, we work hard to connect our Exchange partners to one another, as goods and services are needed, so the community support extends beyond what we simply source to make great beer. All our Farmhand Exchange members are located within a hundred miles of the brewery, dedicate a portion of their sales to local charities, and pledge to practice responsible growing practices in their own businesses.

And our aspirations for the Farmhand Exchange program are growing. We hope you'll stay tuned as it evolves and grows—we've started providing a little insight on each of our Exchange partners below, along with the products and services they provide, both to our brewery and to the public in general. We encourage you to buy goods & services from them as well—just tell ‘em the Haw River folks sent ya!

BENJAMIN VINEYARDS supplies us with used oak barrels and a few types of grapes, which we use in various beer styles, as well as a seasonal soda. Run by two of the nicest folks you'll ever meet, and located just across the river here in Saxapahaw, NC.

HAPPY CHICK FARM provides wild blackberries, maypop fruits and wild persimmons that we use in a number of our barrel-aged sour beers. Located just down the road across the Chapel Hill line.

BUSHY TAIL FARMfor the Cinderella pumpkins we use in Hiverna, our "winter harvest" saision, and Deciduous, our black sour pumpkin ale. Located just across the river here in Saxapahaw, NC.

EAST BRANCH GINGERsupplies type types of fresh ginger and turmeric root, which we use in a variety of beers and our seasonal fresh ginger ale. Located just down the road in Pittsboro, NC.

INDIAN GROVE FARM grows pink lemonade blueberries, brown turkey figs, elderberries, and a number of other delicious ingredients we use in our beer. Indian Grove has also introduced ground cherries to its lineup specifically for us to use in a barrel-aged golden sour ale that we brew. Located in Mount Airy, NC.

PEACEFUL RIVER FARM (Chapel Hill, NC)

PIEDMONT HOPSgrows several varieties of hops, and provides us with cones that we use in a number of year-round specialty beers, including our seasonal Wet Nugget Grisette. They have a yard in Chapel Hill, NC, as well as another in southern VA.